Automatic brake-control mechanism for automobiles



Oct. 20, 1925. 1 1,557,689

7 L. 'r. HARRlGAN AUTOMATIC BRAKE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBTLES Filed May 5, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 04 Q N L\ F? v l h k 3 i F I N $1 as 9 DH 1 I z\ so II N a w Q v NVENTOR. W LM/T AmP/GA ATTORNEY L. T. HARRIGAN AUTOMATIEJ BRAKE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed May 5, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Lam 7%FR/GA/V ATTORNEY 2, BY I Patented Oct. 20, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LON T. HARRIGAN, OF SAN QUENTIN, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO HYDRO PATENTS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC BRAKE-CONTROL MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

v Application filed May 5,

Z 0 all whom it. may concern Be it known that I, LON T. I-IARRIGAN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at San Quentin, in the county of Marin and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Brake-Control Mechanism for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an automatic brake control mechanism for automobiles.

The principal object of this invention is to provide means whereby the brakes of an automobile will be automatically applied when the drive shaft rotates faster than a predetermined speed.

Another object is to provioe a mechanism of this character which may be applied to any vehicle now upon the market Without materially altering the construction of the same.

Another object is to produce a device of this character which is simple in construction, and therefore cheap to manufacture.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a device which will be automatic in its operation and one which will require a minimum amount of care.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming,

a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device,

Figure 2 is a cross section taken on the lines 22 of Figure 3,

Figure 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Applicant is aware of the fact that governors have been employed for the purpose of regulating the speed of an engine. These devices, however, are inefficient as it is often necessary to run the engine at a higher speed than the governor is set for as for instance when climbing hill in low geai.

I have therefore devised means whereby the brakes will be automatically applied whenever the drive shaft revolves at a speed beyond a predetermined amount.

In the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a cylinder closed by a 1923. Serial No. 637,001.

threaded head '6 and having a stuffing box 7 at its opposite end.

ing box 7 and has a piston 9 secured thereto. This piston rod has a slot 11 formed upon its free extremity within which a cross piece 12 is adapted to ride; This cross piece is secured to the ordinary brake rod 13 of the automobile.

Lugs 14 and 16 are'formed integral with ing 21, while the opposite end is connected v to a valve casting 22. The port 18 has a similar nipple 23 secured therein, which nipple is connected to a union 24 from which a;-

A piston rod 8 extends through the stuif- I pipe 26 leads to the bottom of the pump casing 21.

A branch pipe 27 connects the pipe 26 to the bottom of the valve casting 22. A

bracket 28 serves to support the pump case ing at a suitable point beneath the cylinder 5, while a bracket 29 supports the pipe 19.

Positioned between the pump casing 21 and the valve casting 22 is a housing 31, within which is located a governor 32 of the centrifugal ball type, which governor is rotated throughthe medium of a shaft 33 extending 8 through the pump casing and having a driving sprocket 34 secured to its opposite end.

It is of course understood that pumping rotors as shown at 36 and 37 are mounted within the pump casing and function in the upon the road, the drive shaft 39 will be revolving, which will transmit motion through the chain '38. This action will cause the governor 32 to rotate and when the speed of rotation of the governor has become suflieient :to overcome the spring tension for which it has been set, the balls will fly out and cause the valve 11 to move toward its seat a8. During this time the fluid within the pipe 19 has been circulating through the pump, and will next be discharged into the pipe 26, and thence through the pipe 27, valve casting 22 and back tothe pump 19. As soon, however, as the valve comes into contact with its seat this circulation can not take place, and thus the fluid will flow through the pipe 26 through the port 18 and cause the piston 9 to move in the direction of the arrow. "While the fluid in front of the piston will be transferred to the back thereof, through the medium of the pump, thus drawing fluid from the port 17. As the said piston moves outwardly the rod 8 will contact the cross piece 12 and thereby vmove the brake rod in a direction which will apply the brakes. When the speed has been slackened the governor will automatically open the'valvc and thereby allow the normal circulation to again take place, with the result that the car will function in the usual manner.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size" and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departingi'rom the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I

1. In combination with an automobile having a brake rod and a driven shalt, of a fluid containing cylinder mounted adjacent thereto, a piston mounted within said cylinder, ,a connection between the piston rod and the brake rod permitting a limited manually applied braking movement of the brake ro-l independent of the piston rod, a shaft mounted below said cylinder, means for driving said last mentioned shaft from the driven shaft, a governor mounted upon said second mentioned shaft, and a valve controlled by said governor for regulatingthe flow of fluid -trom one side 01 said piston to the opposite side thereof.

2. In a motor vehicle, a brake, driving means between the motor and traction wheels, a dual control for the brake cone prising a manually operated brake rod and a fluid pressure mechanism, the fluid pressure mechanism being connected to the brake, rod and responsive to the speed of the said driving means, said connection between the fluid pressure mechanism and the brake rod permitting the brake rod to be manually actuated independently of the fluid pressure mechanism. v

In a motor vehicle, a brake, an actuating rod therefor, manually manipulated means for actuating the brake by said rod, a fluid brakeapplying means, including a cylinder having a piston therein, a rod for said piston, an elongated slot in the piston rod, means fixed to the brake rod and connected to the piston rod with a limited longitudinal movement in said slot, the manually manipulated means for actuating the brake being operable independently of the fluid brake applying means with the movement of the brake rod limited to the length of the slot in the piston rod.

In testimony whereof I my signature.

- LON T. Hans-lei .N'. 

